Tips to get better tourist photos

Nikon D5, AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, ISO 4000, ƒ/5.6, 1/500

While shooting my own photos of the Kilauea Volcano in the Hawaiian Volcano National park you cannot help but notice everyone else taking photos.

Nikon D5, AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, ISO 100, ƒ/5, 1/500

Here was one family doing this the more traditional way of having a stranger use their camera/smart phone to take the photo for them.

Nikon D5, AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, ISO 100, ƒ/5. 1/1000

The other thing we saw a lot of was the selfie sticks.

Nikon D5, AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, ISO 110, ƒ/11, 1/100

Now if you had a real camera you most likely have a lens that will get you and your friends into the photo without a selfie stick.

Nikon D5, AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, ISO 100, ƒ/5, 1/640

Now I was watching these three ladies in the shade and just a second ago they were taking photos of the volcano way the heck away from them. But they couldn't see their screens in the sun, so they backed up to get the photo.

The downside to this is the only way that people are getting close up shots is to zoom in.

When you zoom in on your smartphone you are not actually zooming, you are cropping in on the image and now shooting a more pixelated version. As long as it looks good on the phone you are OK as long as everyone sees it on a phone, but if they see it on their computer monitor or even large screen TV it will not look so good.

Nikon D5, AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, ISO 32000, ƒ/3.5, 1/500

While the guy has a camera with a zoom the lady has an auxiliary lens she put onto her photo to help her get closer without cropping. She is basically doing the same thing as a person with an interchangeable lens. She is put another lens on her camera phone to get closer.

Nikon D5, AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, ISO 65535, ƒ/3.5, 1/160

Many of these camera phones do a great job. This photo here of Akaka falls is with my DROID TURBO by Motorola. It is a 16 megapixel camera that does actually really well.

Now here is the same shot with my Nikon D5.

Nikon D5, AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, ISO 100, ƒ/5, 1/400

Basically in good sunlight the smartphones do a great job.

Now the tip I would like to share with you is that if you can fill the frame of your smartphone without cropping then most of the latest and greatest smartphone do an excellent job in sunlight. Now if you need to get closer and this is your once in a lifetime trip either buy some auxiliary lenses for your smartphone or buy a camera with a zoom. You will get better photos that you can see on other devices and even make wall prints with excellent results.

Now one finally tip. Even if you have the right gear don't walk backwards to stand in the shade so you can see your monitor. Just take you second hand and create the shade to see your screen.